Brazil, December 30: A third risky operation has been performed successfully on the Brazilian toddler who was pierced with 32 sewing needles by his stepfather.
In this ‘black magic’ needle abuse case, which has rocked Brazil, surgeons said on Tuesday that they had successfully removed four needles lodged near the 2-year-old boy’s spinal column. This was the third operation in 10 days, they added.
In all, 22 of the 32 needles, which had been pierced in the toddler’s neck, chest, stomach, liver, and legs by his stepfather, who apparently believes in black magic, have been removed so far. The child is out of danger now, the doctors said.
“We think that this child’s story will have a happy ending,” surgeon Jose Siqueira told journalists after Monday evening’s operation in Salvador de Bahia, in northeastern Brazil.
The doctors said they have not yet reached any conclusion about the removal of the remaining 10 needles, which do not pose immediate danger to the child’s life.
The child’s stepfather, 30-year-old bricklayer Roberto Carlos Magalhaes, has confessed that under the influence of his mistress, he drove the needles, one by one, into the boy’s body over a period of one month.
He said he had performed a black magic ritual designed to exact revenge on his wife and had intended to kill the boy with the slivers.
The mistress and the alleged sorceress, who oversaw the ceremonies, have been arrested.
——-Agencies